Peter Holt led a consortium that bought the Spurs for $76 million in 1996. It’s an investment that continues to pay off handsomely, with the Spurs reaching the $1 billion mark — more than double its worth from just four years ago — in Forbes Magazine’s annual NBA franchise valuations. …

The Spurs continue to put distance between their December of discontent, winning three of four last week to improve to 7-2 since New Year’s Eve. They now face road games at Denver and Chicago before starting a stretch of six straight at home — a scheduling gift they have to take advantage of if they’re going to have any hope of digging out of their hole in seventh place in the Western Conference playoff race. …